A DRUNKEN daughter tried to smother her 97-year-old mother with her favourite cushion while they argued about Christmas lunch, a court heard.

As she held the cushion over her mother’s face Julie Faulkner told her: “You’ve lived too long and you’re a nuisance.”

Moments earlier Connie Goodman had asked whether her 67-year-old daughter would be cooking their Christmas dinner.

Faulkner, who had been drinking brandy, pulled the cushion from behind her mother’s head and tried to murder her. After her arrest she claimed it was what Mrs Goodman had asked her to do when “things got too bad”.

Yesterday Faulkner was jailed for five years after admitting attempted murder.

Leicester Crown Court was told that Mrs Goodman never wants to see her daughter again – but wants her cushion back.

The court heard Mrs Goodman was in a chair at her sheltered accommodation flat in Blaby, Leics, on December 23 when the argument broke out.

“Much of the commotion could be heard by the person answering. The handler was able to speak to the defendant. Faulkner said she needed the police.”

Miss Pritchard said Faulkner told the handler: “I put a pillow on her head, like she asked me to do. Goodnight.” The operator asked her to clarify what she had said and she repeated it. The prosecutor added: “Then she told the operator ‘Go to hell’.”

The victim, who was shaken and suffered a cut to her nose, described her daughter as drunk.

“She told officers her daughter had made a mess of her life because of drink, but had never hurt her before,” she said,

Mrs Goodman, who had no history of dementia or mental illness had a number of carers, including her granddaughter, and the defendant, who visited two evenings a week and would cook her Sunday lunch.

You’ve lived too long and you’re a nuisance

Julie Faulkner

When arrested at home nearby Faulkner told officers: “I only did what she wanted me to. I promised her when it got too bad I’d put a pillow on her face. You try looking after a 97-year-old who is going out of her brains.”

The court heard Mrs Goodman no longer wants to see her daughter. Miss Pritchard said: “She’d like to know why her daughter did this to her. She also wants her favourite cushion back.”

Alwyn Jones, mitigating, said Faulkner was remorseful and had described her actions as “losing control”. He said there was no suggestion of financial motive.

Sentencing Faulkner, Judge Michael Pert said: “The fact your mother was so vulnerable and you were in a position of trust and power is an aggravating feature.”